Automobile-service recorder.



-J. F. & F. L. OHMER. AUTOMOBILE SERVICQ RECORDER. APPLICATION FILED MAY2|. 1911.

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AUTOMOBILE SERVICE RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2|. I911.

' 1,262,836. Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

I l l M 43 i7 23 4 97 T UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. OHMER AND FREDERICK L. OHMER, 0F DAYTON, OHIO.

AUTOMOBILE- SERVICE RECORDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

Application filed May 21, 1917. Serial No. 169,884.

such as w1ll enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

This invention relates to means for enabling the ownersof automobiles tokeep informed as to the extent their machines are not present when thebeing used by others when the owners are cars are being run. It is wellknown to the owners of automobiles who employ chaufieurs or those whokeep that the machines are used by persons without license or permit.The result is that muchgasolene is consumed-at the expense of the ownerand the machines are subjected to wear and tear. The object of thepresent invention is 'to provide eflicient means whereby the owners ofautomobiles may detect these unauthorized uses and may identify theperson so appropriatin the machines without authority.

, imately on the To the oregoing ends the invention comprises the meanshereinafter described and claimed in connection with the accompanyingdrawings. Referring to these drawings in general terms, Figure 1 is aside elevation of an automobile upon which our improved service controlmeans are mounted. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine with thefront portion of the casing removed to disclose the mechanism thereofFig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is asectional view approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is asectional view approximately on the line 5-5 of Figs. 3 and 4; Fig. 6 isa sectional view approxline 66 of Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 7 is a detail viewof the actuating devices for the counters which print the mileage on therecords taken from the machine. Flg. 8 is a detail view of the actuatingmeans" for the counters which print the serious printing devices locatedin the machine and Fig. 10 is a modification of the connections betweenthe fluid control valve and the printing actuating devices of themachine.

Throughout the description to follow and the drawings, similar referencecharacters are employed to indicate corresponding arts.

Mounted upon the rear plate 1 of the machine ciising is a frameconsisting of a series of arallel walls 2 which support counter sha ts 3and 4 which are shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Mounted upon the shaft3 is a trip mileage indicating counter 5 and aseason mileage indicatingcounter 6, and upon shaft 4 are mounted a companion trip mileageprinting counter 7 and a season or grand total mileage printing counter8. The trip counters 5 and 7 register the mileage by tenths and all ofthe aforesaid counters 5, 6, 7 and 8 may be of any of the wellknowntypes and these counters in the present instance are provided witha'well-known form of l-tooth transfer gears 9, 10 and 11. Other printingor recording counters hereinafter referred to are also mounted on thecounter shaft 4. The transfer gears 10 are the driving gears for thecounters and are common to both the printin and the indicating or visualcounters, an these transfer gears are mounted upon a shaft 12 (Fig. 7).The shaft 12 is the driving shaft for the counters and the same isprovided with a worm gear 13 which engages a worm 14 on a shaft 15journaled in a bearing 16 and the frame 2'. The shaft 15 is providedwith a worm gear 17 which engages a w rm gear 18 on a shaft 19, thelatter shaft be ing journaled in the frame 2 and in a frame 20 attachedto the rear plate 1. The said shaft 19 is provided with a beveled gear21 (Fig. 4), which engages a beveled gear 22 on a shaft 23. The shaft 23is journaled in a bracket 24 and at its lower end in a bearing Throughthe agency of the above train 1). of mechanism the indicating andprinting mileage counters referred to are? driven from a rotating partof the vehicle, and as is well known, the rotation of these counterscorresponds with the distance the vehicle drives. The counters 5 and 7which as be:

to one of the wheels. of the vehicle by a flexible shaft 121 (Fig 0rd.In the ported by the rear plate 1 and a cross memer 32 supported by theframes 2 and 20. The shaft 30 also supports a beveled gear 33 whichengages a similar gear 34 mounted" upon a vertical shaft 35 journaled ina boss 36 on the bracket 31. The shaft 35 carries a rotating magnet 37which is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 projecting below an inverted cup 38 inwhich it revolves, said cup 38 being supported on a shaft 39. The shaft39 forms a pivot having a bearing in a plate 40 and on the upper end ofthe shaft 35. The said cup 38 is provided with surface indications ornumerical characters which indicate the speed at which the vehicle isdriving and the said indicator is controlled in its normal position andis moved to such a position by a suitable spring 41. The rotation of themagnet 37 against the tension of the spring 41 rotates the indicator orcup 38 to indicate the speed at which the vehicle drives, in awell-known manner. Mounted upon the counter shaft 4 in proximity to thecounter 8 which prints the grand total mileage, are two printing wheels42 and 43 (Figs. 2 and 6) which are instrumental in printing the datesupon the records asshown in Fig. 9. These printing wheels42 and 43 areprovided'with gears 44 which engage gears 45 mounted on telescopicshafts 46 and 47 These shafts 46 and 47 are journaled in the frame 2 andon their left-hand sides, as seen in Fig. 6, they are provided ,withfinger pieces 48 which are in turn provided with hands or pointers 49,the latter cooperating with a dial 50 which is on the right-hand side ofthe casing as shown in Fig. 6. This dial 50 may be provided with theproper indicators to show the months and the days thereof, and the saiddial is utilized to deter mine the movements to be given the dateprinting wheels 42 and 43 in setting them to the proper position toprint the dates as shown on the record (Fig. 9). Also mounted on thecounter shaft 4 in roximity to the date printin wheels 42 and 43 is aprinting counter 51 ig. 6) of any well-known type for printing theserial number on said recpresent instance, this counter 51 is of thel-tooth transfer type and is provided with transfer gears 52 and 53, thelatter being the actuating gears which are mounted on a shaft 54journaled in the frames 2 and 20. The counter 51 for printing the serialnumber upon the record is actua-ted from the printing mechanism to behereinafter described. Extending a suitable distance from the frame 2 t0the right of the serial numbering counter 51 is a stationary typemelhber 55 which prints on the records taken from the machine from timeto time the number of the machine, and near this stationary type member55 is a key housing 56 supported by the frame 20. The key housing 56receives a key 57 which is shown in Fig. 2 to be inserted therein. Thesaid key 57 is provided with a suitable type of printing character fromwhich impressions are taken upon the record identifying on the recordthe operator or person in whose pos; session the key is laced. In thepresent instance this identi cat-ion mark on the record (Fig. 0) appearsto be B17. This identification or printing key also performs thefunction of a locking key to unlock the printin mechanism and forcontrolling the power for driving the automobile, as will hereinafterappear. The printing counters 7 8, and 51, the type wheels 42 and 43,the type member 55, and the identification printing key 57 are allarranged in printin alinement and impressions or records sucii as areshown in Fig. 9 are taken therefrom.

Referring to this record in detail, the lowermost impression shows thetrip mileage counters to be at zero, for example, when the automobile istaken possession of by a person having a key 57. This key is insertedand the printing mechanism is unlocked thereby. Theprinting mechanism isthen operated by turning the finger piece (Fig. 2) which operationplaces the automobile in a condition for use, as will hereinafter beapparent. The first impression 0000 discloses the position of the tripmileage counters; 0133 an impression from the season or grand totalmileage counters; Aug. 19 the date the first impression was made; 1351the impression from the serial numbering printing device; 17 theimpression from the machine number printing device; C3 the number of thekey which identifies the holder of that key. After the trip iscompleted, another or second impression must be made before the key canbe withdrawn and the automobile locked out of service. On the record,the second impression 0023 from the trip counters shows that the car wasdriven two and three-tenths miles; 0135 being the impression from thegrand total printing counter; Aug. 19 showing that the trip was finishedon the same day, and the impressions from the serial numbering printer,the machine number-printer and the identification key being the same asthe first impression. It will be seen that the operation of printing arecord at the beginning and ending of each trip is necessary before thecar can be placed in a condition for use. The first operation un-"platen 166, before the locks the car, and the subsequent operationlooks it until another record is taken. The records are taken by thefollowing means: Extending from the inner face of the plate 1 are twoalined lugs 59 to which are pivoted two sideplates 61 which support theprinting mechanism, the said side plates 61 being supported at theirforward or front ends by hook members 62 which are attached tothe shaft4 and engage lugs 63 extending from said plates. This means provides forthe lowering and raising of the printing mechanism to allow theinsertion of the roll of paper 64 and for the insertion of the strip 65therefrom between the rollers as shown in Fig. 3. Mounted below the typemembers hereinbeforedescribed is a platen 66 which is supported on arms67 pivoted at 68 to the side plates 61. This platen 66 is arranged topress the paper strip 65 against the printing members to secure theimpressions as shown in Fig. 9.- In this operation it is elevated byeccentric portions 68 of a shaft 69 the ends of which are journaled inthe side plates 61. The said shaft 69 is rotated by the finger piece 70secured upon a shaft 71 (Fig. 2). The shaft 71 is connected totheright-hand end of the shaft 69 and may be disconnected therefrom whenit is desired to lower the printing mechanism with the side plates 61.In addition to operating the platen the shaft 69 is provided with twodisks 72 one at each end thereof and upon which are pins 73 which engagethe lower ends of levers 74 which support the inking roller 77 (Figs. 3and 4). The levers 74 are pivoted at 7 5 and are controlled by springs76 attached to the ends thereof and to the frame walls 2. During theinitial movement of the shaft 69, the inking roller 77 is carried underthe type or printing devices to ink the same. The pins 7 3 release thelever 74 and permit the inking roller 77 to be moved out of the path ofthe eccentric portions 68 elevate said platen. After an impression hasbeen made on the record Strip 65, the said strip is fed forward betweenfeed rollers 78 which are mounted on shafts 79 journaled in the sideplate 61. The roller shaft 79 is the actuatin shaft of the pair and onits right-hand en is a Swiss gear 80 which is adapted to be partiallymoved at each operation of the shaft 69 by a tooth 81 on one of thedisks 72 (Fig. 8). -This operation takes place at the end of themovement of the shaft 69. The shaft 54 of the consecutive numberingcounter 51 is actuated from the printing mechanism by the followingmeans: Attached to the inner side of the right-hand disk 7 2 is al-tooth gear 109 which intermittently engages with a Swiss gear 110pivoted to the frame 20. Attached to the side of the Swiss gear 110 is apinion 111 which engages with the gear 112 on the shaft 54. Near the endof the operation of the shaft 69 the tooth of the gear 109 willpartially rotate-the shaft 54 and actuate the counter 51. It will benoted that two serial numbers will appear on the record for each serviceof an operator, that is to say, at the beginning and the end of eachtrip as shown in the two top and two lower impressions on the recordsheet (Fig. 9) whereit is shown that C3 took the car out and returned itin one instance, the serial numbers being 1351 and 1352. And, in theother instance B17 took the car out and returned it, under serialnumbers 1359 and 1360. It will be understood that the first number willbe the controlling number for any one particular service or operator.The operation of the printing mechanism and the rotation of' the shaft69 are controlled by the identification key 57. When the said key isremoved from its housing 5 6,- the printing mechanism is locked, andupon the insertion of said key it is unlocked. The said key 57 isprovided with a pin 82 as shown in Fig. 2 which is adapted to engage adog 83 pivoted to the key housing and under the influence of a spring 85which is also attached at one end to the said housing. The said dog isadapted to engage a shoulder 86 on one of the disks 72, the one nearestthe key housing. When the dog so engages -said shoulder the rotation ofthe impression shaft 69 is prevented and the printing mechanism islocked. When the key 57 is inserted, the dog 83 is shifted to bring thelower end thereof out of the path of the shoulder 86, and when the saidkey is removed, the spring 85 will return the disk into the path of theshoulder 86 thereby locking the printing mechanism. The impression shaft69 is held in its normal position by a spring-controlled .pawl 87mounted in a housing 88 and adapted to enter a suitable recess in theshaft as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, in a wellknown manner. Whenthe said key is inserted, it cannot be removed unless two impressionsare taken from the printing mechanism, the first impression being taken,as before indicated, when a persontakes charge of the automobile, andthe second impression being taken at the end of that particular serviceor trip. This is accomplished by the following means:

The impression device 69 is provided with a pinion 89 in engagement witha gear 90, the ratio of the pinion to the gear being one to two. Thegear 90 is supported by a. bracket 91 attached to one of the side plates61 and supports the printing devices (Fig. 4). The gear 90 is providedwith a projec tion 92 which is adapted to engage a projection 93 on apawl 94 which is pivoted to a lug 95 extending from the rear plate 1.The projection 92 holds the pawl 94 in an elevated position when themachine is in a normal conditiom'the key 57 being removed and taking therecords from the machine.

the automobile out of use. When the key is inserted and the printingmechanism has been given its initial operation by turning the fin eriece 7 O, the ear 9O owing as beg dp g a pawl 94 is braced against anymovement of the pin 96 when it is attempted to erroneously remove thekey, by a bracket 97 which,

extends from the key housing 56 (Fig. 6).

Coming now to the features cooperating with the aforegoing mechanism orwith the printing elements thereof, we will now describe the meansthrough which the motive fluid to the engine (not shown) is controlled.This comprises a suitable valve which is actuated to its open or closedposition through the operation of the printing mechanisn iniln e valve116 is inclosedin a casing 126 fixed to the rear wall 1 of the machinecasing. This valve may admit an expansive fluid such as steam or anexplosive fluid such as gasolene.

Any fluid capable of furnishing power for the engine may be utilized. Inthe present instance we will refer to the valve as being adapted toadmit explosive fluid to that form of an engine, which is not shown. The

valve 116 is connected with inlet and outlet pipes 117 and the valve isoperated to open and close the passage by the following means:

We have hereinbefore referred to the gear '90 in connection with theprinting mecha nism, said gear being operated from the pinion 89 whenthe impression shaft 69 is operated to take an impression from theprinting wheels. A cam 99'moves in unison with the gear 90. A roller 101engages the periphery of the cam 99 and is held in such position by aspring 100. The roller 101 is mounted on the end of a plunger 98 WhlChin turn is mounted in the rear wall 1 of the machine casing. The spring100 is fixed at one end to the said wall and arranged to engage the endof the plunger 98 on both sides thereof. When the cam 99 rotates itdrives the plunger 98 outwardly against the tension of the spring 100 asthe highest point of the cam engages the roller. The plunger 98 isconnected at its outer end to a'valveoperating lever 114 through meansof a pin 119 which lies within a slot in an end of said lever. The saidlever 114 is pivoted on a fulcrum pin 118 which is. mounted in a bracketextending from the rear wall 1 of the casing. The lever 114 is connectedwith the movable part of the valve by means of a crank and pin 113, thepin entering a slot in the end of the lever. The cam 99 (Fig. 4) is inthe position at which the valve is closed to the admission of the motivefluid to the engine nd the automobile is out of service. When thechaufieur or other person desires to use the machine the key 57 isinserted and the printing mechanism is unlocked thereby and in order toadmit the motive fluid t0 the engine the valve 116 must be moved to itsopen position. Thi necessitates an impression being taken from theprinting devices and in taking this impression the cam 99 is moved tothe position opposite that shown in Fig. 4 and the valve is therebyopened through the action of the cam upon the plunger 98. The deviceremains in this position as long as the machine is in use and the keycannot be withdrawn during this period. After the chauffeur or personusing the machine returns to the garage the key is given a secondoperation in taking the second record and the cam 99 4 is moved from itsformer position to the poa ve sition shown in Fig. 4 thus closing the vand permitting the removal of the particular key which has been used.The record thus taken at the beginning and ending of the period ofservice indicates the distance driven and the key used as well as theother data shown on the record sheet in Fig. 9. In Fig. 10 amodification of the valve connection is shown. The valve 116 is shown inthis view connected in the pi e 117 directly and the arm 115 of the vave is connected to the plunger 98 by an extended rod or connection 123.In Fig. 10 the valve is shown connecting the pipe 117 between the sourceof supply and the carbureter 120, the latter being shown in dotted linesin Fig. 1. The inclosing case 102 of the mechanism is convenientlymounted upon the instrument board 122in front of the driver.

While we have with some particularity described the various mechanism wedo not wish to unnecessarily limit ourselves to details, as it willbeapparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may bemade without departing from the underlying principles of our inventionwhich involve a control of the motive fluid to the engine through theoperation of impression or printing mechanism which is instrumental intaking records from the various instrumentalities which show the serviceof the automobile upon which the devices are used.

Having described our invention we claim:

1. In a machine of the character specified, the combination with mileagerecording counters, impression devices cooperating therewith in takingarecord from said counters of the mileage a car has traveled theoperative relation betweensaid counters by said key.

and impression devices, of avalve controlling the discharge of motivefluid to the enginewhich in for said car, and means actuated by saidimpresslon devlces for operating said valve.

2. In a machine of the character specified, the combination with mileagerecording counters, impression devices coo crating with said counters intaking recor s, therefrom of the mileage a car has traveled, and

means controllingthe operations of said impression devices, 'a, valvecontrolling the passage'of motive fluid to the engine of said car, andconnections between said valve and the impression devices whereby thevalve is opened-in one'operation of the-impression devices and is closedin the next succeeding operation of said impression devices.

3. In a machine of the character specified, the combination with mileagerecording counters, impr'ession devices coiiperating therewith in takingrecords from said counters of the mileage a car has traveled, of meanscontrolling the discharge of motive fluid to the engine of said car,-said means being actuated from the impression devices when saidimpression devices are operated.

4'. 'In a machine of the character specified, the combination withmileage recording counters, impression devices cooperating therewith intaking records from said counters ofthe mileage a car has traveledwithin a any given'period', and'a key controlling the operative relationof the impression devices and said counters, of a valve controlling theadmission of motive fluid to the engine of said car, said valve beingactuated from an operation of the impression devices after saidimpression devices have been unlocked 5. In a machine of the characterspecified,

the combination with mileage recording counters, impression devicescooperating therewith in taking records from said counters of themileage a car has traveled in. any

given period, and akey controlling the operativerelation between saidcounters and devlces, said hey having said. impression. meansthereon foridentifying with said record the person having said key, of a valvecontrolling the admission of motive fluid to the engine of said car, andmeans actuated from said impression devices for operating saidvalve whenrecords are taken from the counters.- I

6. :Infa machine of the character specified, the combination of a valvecontrolling the admission of motive fluid to an engine, and printingmechanism including counters for taking a record of the mileage a carpropelled'bysaid on ine has traveled, connections between sai printingmechanism and said valve, and means for operating said rnishes thepropelling power 10f motive fluid to the engine of said vehicle,

counters, impression devices for'taking recprinting mechanism to actuatethe valve to open or close the same.

7. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a valvecontrolling the admission of motive fluid to an engine, printingmechanism adapted in its alternative operations to open or close saidvalve, an identifying key controlling the operations of said printingmechanism, and means for locking said key in position after it hasreleased the printing mechanism. i

8. In a machine of the character specified, the combination with anengine drlven vehicle, of a valve controlling the admission 80. printingmechanism adapted in one of its operations to open said valve andthereby admit motive fluid to said engine, and in the other of itsoperations to close said valve, means for lockmg said printing mechanism against operation, an identifying printing member by means ofwhich the v person operating said printing mechanism is identified withthe record made thereby, and means actuated by said printingmechanism'to lock the identifying printing member in a printingposition.

9. In a machine of the character specified, the combination withthe'mileage recording ords, from said counters showing the distancetraveled by a car equipped with said machine, an identifying memberserving to lock and unlock said means for taking said records, of avalve controlling the admission of motive fiuid to the engine of said.car, a rotating member actuated concurrently with a the operations ofthe record-taking means, and means interposed between'said' rotatingmember and said valve whereby the valve is alternately opened and.closed and thereby controls the admission of the motive fluid to theengine.

10. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a valvecontrolling the admission of motive fluid to an engine,

means for actuating said valve including a rotating member, printingmembers including a mileage counter adapted to record the miles traveledby a car drivenby said en- 116 gine, impression devices cotiperatingwith said printing members in taking such records, means interposedbetween said impression devices and said rotating member for drivingsaid rotating member whereby 120 the valve is actuated alternately toadmit sion devices and said counter and adapted to furnish an impressionidentifying the person using said key with said record, a valvecontrolling the admission of the motive fluid to the engine of saidvehicle, said valve being operated from the impression mechanism, andmeans for printing the dates upon said records to identify the mileagerecords therewith.

'12. In a\machine of the type specified, the combination with a mileageprinting counter, means for actuating said counter from a rotatingelement of a vehicle, date and serial numbering printing devicescooperating with the mileage printing counter in furnishing a record,impression mechanism cooperating with said printing counter and devicesin taking such records, and valve controlling the admission of motivefluid to the engine of said vehicle, said valve being operated from theimpression devices to exclude and admit the motive fluid to the en ine.

13. n a machine of the character specified, the 'combination Wit-h avalve controlling the admission of motive fluid, to the engine of apower driven vehicle, of printing mechanism connected with said valveand serving to operate the valve to open or close the same on thealternate operations of said printing mechanism, and a key controllingthe operative relation between the printing mechanism and the valve.

14. In a machine of the character specified, the combination with avalve controlling the admission of motive fluid to the engine of a powerdriven vehicle, of printing mechanism adapted in its alternateoperations to open or close said valve, and means for locking andunlocking the printing mechanism, said means serving to identify theperson operating said printing mechanism and said valve.

15; In a device of the character specified, the combination with amileage printing counter, and impression devices cooperating therewithin taking records from said counter showing the mileage a car equippedwith said machine has traveled, of a valve controlling the admission ofthe motive fluid to the engine of said car, a cam actuated from theoperations of the impression devices and reciprocable connectionsbetween the valve and the cam whereby the valve is alternately openedand closed on each alternate o eration of the impression devices.

16. he combination with a ower driven vehicle, of means carried there yfor taking a record showing the mileage said vehicle travels for anygiven period of time and including the dates of each record and meansfor identifying the person taking such record, of impression devices forsaid recordtaking means, a key controlling said impression devices, anda valve controlling the admission of motive fluid to the engine of saidvehicle, said valve being operated from the impression devices.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

JOHN F. OHMER. FRED. L. OHMER.

